Here is a cool video of some liquid nitrogen being thrown into a swimming pool. Not something that we would advise but it creates and amazing effect

Replacing the Sand in your Filter:         If you ask pool owners what the best kind of filter for a swimming pool is, they will say Sand Filters. A sand filter works by trapping dirt and contaminants in the fine sand particles, filtering it similar to the way that mineral water is produced. In the swimming pool sand filter there is a pressure gauge on the multi port valve or on top of the filter, which tells you when the sand starts to get dirty. This is indicated by the pressure increasing and starts to read a higher pressure, when this happens it is indicating the sand needs cleaning. As the water is struggling to be pulled through the sand, this is done through a process called backwashing.

If the pressure continues to be high after backwashing it could mean the sand needs replacing. Sand is normally replaced every 5 years although this can depend upon a number of factors. To replace the sand on your swimming pool filter you must first remove the cap on top of the filter or in some cases the multi-port valve depending on the model. The best way to remove the sand is to use your hand and scoop out the sand, this needs to be done carefully so as not to damage the laterals which are based at the bottom of the filter.

When the sand is removed, rinse out with water, put filter back in place and refill with fresh sand. Read the specs on the side of filter to see correct amount of sand to add, when sand is full to the correct level top up with water. Re connect pipe work and backwash the sand for 15 seconds or till viewing glass runs clear. Turn pump off then rinse through for 20 seconds after this have filter on filtration. The reason you do this is to prevent sand going through to the pool. With a pool that is regularly maintained your fresh sand should last about 5 years.

Any questions on this or any other swimming pool maintenance issues please contact us on 0845 408 4976

Pool Safety especially Child safety around swimming pools is paramount to pool owners, the worst thing ever to happen is for an accident to happenl knowing that it could have been prevented, therefore there have been innovations made for the child safety around the pool, from alarms, safety covers and safety fencing.

The best way to prevent children going near pools when they shouldn’t is to have some kind of fence or enclosure built round it, but this option is not very appealing to most pool owners due to the aesthetics and space that these products take up, so the Safety Fence was invented. The Relax Safety Fence by Plastica is an elegantly designed removable fence for any size swimming pool.

The fence is made to European safety standards. The fence is made from a strong tight mesh that does not permit climbing. The mesh will not rip, rot, fade or tear. The fence is held taught so does not allow toys to pass through and children cannot crawl under.

The fence is held in place by 32mm diameter holes drilled into a stone or concrete solid floor. A sleeve is fitted in the hole so that the fence poles are held tightly in place and will stand at 1.14m high. This is done with all the posts apart from the gate, which is bolted to the floor and is the only part of the enclosure that cannot be removed. The gate also comes with a key lock to provide security.

This product is designed to be removed in a matter of minutes for opening up the pool area, although when the fence is erected there is a transparency to the fence so does not spoil the look of the surrounding area.

The safety fence comes in different sections to suit any swimming pool size, these are 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m and 5m lengths. Please refer to our site to find out the relevant prices.

The other option is a Swimming Pool Alarm the Aqua Plouf Alarm this will not prevent children or animals falling in the pool but will alert you if any one or anything falls in to your swimming pool. This system uses underwater sensors that will detect the tiniest changes in the water. The alarm is self-calibrating and will reset every 15minutes. The alarm uses two 115db alarms to alert the swimming pool owner of any disturbance in the water. Although Swimming Pool Alarm is not currently listed on our website we do stock these items and will answer any questions you have on pool alarm systems.

Another option is a Swimming Pool Safety Cover. The Safety Cover, covers the pool and prevents people coming in contact with the water through its strength and build quality, also acts as a heat retention shield and debris cover as well. The best option in swimming pool safety covers on the market is the Hydraulic Safety Cover by Relax, as this product can be fitted on existing swimming pools as well as new builds.

The safety cover comes in two versions, a pit version designed for new swimming pools and a bench version that can be installed on existing swimming pools. These safety covers are custom made for each pool and work by a mechanised end that uses dual hydraulic motors for operating the cover, this also comes in a manual version.

The Relax Hydraulic Safety Covers are simple to use and installation is included in the cost. The benefits of the safety cover is that it saves you money through its heat retention properties, keeps your pool clean and clear of debris and operates automatically with a key switch. The Relax Hydraulic Safety Cover is the perfect option for pool where safety is paramount.
Although not a safety product, our Solar Sun Rings do have a safety aspect in mind. The Sun Rings were designed with safety in mind as there have been reported fatal accidents with people falling into a swimming pool with a solar cover on and becoming entrapted. The Solar Sun Rings raft together and attach to each other via magnets. These will break free if a child or pet falls into the swimming pool and gives them a chance to get to the side of the pool without becoming entrapted.

We have also included a recent news item that includes some helpful information on pool safety. This news item is interesting as it covers swimming pools where there are no children based at the house but when friends and family visit there is a potential safety issue if the friends and family have children.

For any further questions on these or any other of our swimming pool products please do not hesitate to contact us.